Thursday, January 28, 2010

Immigration in the SOTU

President Obama inserted a few sentences on immigration in the State of the Union:

And we should continue the work of fixing our broken immigration system, to secure our borders, and enforce our laws, and ensure that everyone who plays by the rules can contribute to our economy and enrich our nation.

(APPLAUSE)

In the end, it's our ideals, our values that built America, values that allowed us to forge a nation made up of immigrants from every corner of the globe, values that drive our citizens still.

Better than nothing, surely, but this does not send any sort of signal about it being a priority.  Here is what the White House spokesman had to say in response to a reporter:

Q    On the White House Web site, the Homeland Security Secretary said that there will be a push for comprehensive immigration reform this year.  What's this going to look like?

MR. GIBBS:  Well, I think one of the things the President will -- has talked about and one of the things you'll hear him mention tomorrow and in the coming days, similar to what I've said on cap and trade, and that is that if -- we've started a process on this and if Congress can put together the way forward, a coalition to get the way forward, then it's something we'll work through.

On the one hand, you could say that of course a congressional coalition must be assembled.  Otherwise nothing would get passed.  On the other, it also suggests that Obama is kicking the ball back to Congress rather than pushing for a coalition himself.

For years, I have been correctly pessimistic about the prospects for immigration reform, so it is becoming knee-jerk.  Someday I hope actually to be wrong.

1 comments:

Defensores de Democracia 4:06 PM  

The Revenge of Ted Kennedy from the Grave - Saint Teddy, please help us with Electoral Victories in California and Texas !

The Push of Democrat Politicians and Latino Leaders in California and Texas - Voter Registration / Census

In order to be canonized as a saint by the Pope, Ted Kennedy needs to perform a set of Miracles. The Devil's Advocate will give us a lot of trouble, he will try to prove that Ted is a bad guy. First Miracle that I ask from Ted is a Big Electoral Victory in Texas and California.

What a better homage to Ted Kennedy than a Great Triumph of Democrats in California and Texas ?? .... If democrats seize good chunks of the Electorate and Votes in those two states then Mr Obama will be Greatly Reinforced .... The Texas election for a Governor is going to give a Heart Attack to many strategists and political buffs, specially the fans, followers and aficionados ( like me ) to the Democratic Party and Progressive Politics.

There are Great Opportunities in Voter Registration to recruit Latino Democratic Voters. And the census : to save one District in California and get new four possible electoral districts in Texas ( two of them heavily loaded with Latino Voters ). These Electoral Districts elect Seats in the House of Representatives. .....But Latinos have to be registered for the election and census and not hidden in the woods.

A journalist that I revere Adrian Perez tells us about California and the Registration of Latinos for the Election and the National Census.

Examiner.com

Latino Voters, a key target in California
Sacramento Latino Policy Examiner
By Adrian Perez
January 21, 2010

Latino Voters, a key target in California

http://www.examiner.com/x-25133-Sacramento-Latino-Policy-Examiner~y2010m1d21-Latino-Voters-a-key-target-in-California

Some excerpts :

Latino voters will be the most sought after segment of California’s population as the 2010 election takes shape. While the “Complete Count” campaign prepares to launch in April by the Census Bureau, organizations like the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NaLEO) have been busily registering the growing number of Latino voters. This push, along with the state’s economic climate, the continuing partisan battles and a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision will be key in shaping the Latino vote.

In the report “The Million-Latino-Voter March: A Yearly Event” by Dr. David E. Hayes-Bautista, Director of the Center for the Study of Latino Health and Culture, at UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine, a dramatic truth about Latino voters is illustrated. “Every year, ever since 1990, nearly one-quarter of a million US citizens have been born in California of Latina mothers,” Hayes-Bautista writes. This means that by the 2012 presidential election, there will be more than one million Latino voters added to the state’s electorate.

Dr. Hayes-Bautista goes on to state, “These US citizens are already here. They will inevitably turn 18 years of age. Day by day they are absorbing experiences that will influence their voting registration and party affiliation.”

The recent Massachusetts special election to replace the late Senator Ted Kennedy, a political icon, resulted in a win for the Republicans, whose views were perhaps more in line with voter concerns than his Democratic, and heavily favored, opponent. It is believed this strongly expressed voter concern stretches the width of the country and will appear in California’s election, perhaps translating into a loss for incumbent Senator Barbara Boxer to a Republican opponent. A recent Field Poll shows Republican competitor Tom Campbell within 10 percentage points of Boxer. Campbell has enjoyed Latino support in his past bids for Congress representing Northern California.

Youth, Minorities, Politics :

Milenials.com

Vicente Duque

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